Shot businessman begged for life in raid on mansion

A wealthy businessman screamed “Oh my God, I am going to die,” after he was shot in the leg during a raid on his country mansion, a court was told.

Timothy Mardon was asleep and alone in his house in Sible Hedingham, Essex, when he was woken in the early hours by the sound of men circling his house.

The married father of two called 999 before hiding behind his locked bedroom door as the intruders broke in. Call handlers listened as he was shot through the door with a shotgun and recorded the moment he pleaded with his attacker not to kill him.

Mr Simms is charged with attempted murder of the businessman, who suffered life-changing injuries.

The jury was told that the trio stole a watch worth £3,000 and foreign currency. Richard Christie, QC, for the prosecution, told Chelmsford crown court that Mr Simms and Mr Bergin moved through the house while Mr Shreeve — a former gardener for the Mardons — remained outside as a getaway driver.

Mr Mardon, in his forties, who was spending only a few hours at his home before flying abroad, shouted: “Get the f*** out of my house — I have called the police, they are on their way.”

Mr Christie added: “He heard a massive blast from the shotgun going through the door and hitting him near his femoral artery.”

The barrister described how Mr Simms was captured over the phone demanding: “Tell me where the safe is, or I will kill you.

“Then he started to count down: ten, nine, eight, seven, six, and so on. Mr Mardon was terrified that he would be killed.”

The jury was told that the victim tried to “buy off” his attackers with a watch and currency, also telling them of his £70,000 collection of classic cars.

Mr Mardon, who works for Ace Tempest, a Bermudan insurance company, lost 20 per cent of his blood, despite using a pair of trousers as a tourniquet. He would have died had it not been for the paramedics’ arrival.

Mr Simms and Mr Shreeve, of Halstead, Essex, and Mr Bergin, of Sible Hedingham, face charges of aggravated burglary, wounding with intent, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The case continues.

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